Amplified accordion



Feb. 1, 1949. w. J. BABICKY 2,460,408

AMPLIFIED ACCORDION Filed June 28, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ail/0mmPatented Feb. 1, 1949 2,466,4dii

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMPLIFIED ACCORDION Walter J. Babicky,Milwaukee, Wis.

Application June 28, 1946, Serial No. 680,314

Claims.

This invention relates to an amplified accordion, or the like.

Accordions have been one of the most diificult musical instruments toamplify in a manner pleasing to the ear. Attempts to attach themicrophone to the inside of the casing have resulted in the pickup ofnoise from the keys, valves and bass mechanism, vibrato of the steelreeds, and an excessive disproportionate amplification of the treblepart as compared to the bass part of the music.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an accordionamplification in which the noises referred to are eliminated and inwhich the treble and bass parts are more nearly equally amplified toproduce music pleasing to the ear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel accordionamplification which is more accurate for the player and which does notrequire special training to adjust the touch of the keys and the playingto the idiosyncrasies of the amplifier pickup.

Another object is to reduce the amount of work to play an accordion.

Another object is to provide an amplification pickup for an accordionthat is more accurate and less apt to pick up noises.

A more specific object is to provide a mounting for the microphoneinside the accordion, that will greatly improve the quality ofamplification.

Another specific object is to provide an improved connection for themicrophone in the accordion.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an accordion showing the amplifierhookup thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the accordion opened up,with the microphone mounting in clear view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the microphone mounted in theaccordion;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the microphone mounted in the accordion;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a similar section taken at right angles to Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse detail section through the case taken axially ofthe lead wire connector.

The invention is applicable to any type of accordion and is generallyused in connection with large concert accordions such as the oneillustrated in the drawing.

The amplifier pickup for the accordion I should comprise a very lightweight microphone 2, preferably of the crystal type having but a singlelead wire 3 therefore. Contact type microphones such as those employedfor electric guitars and violins should not be used, as they have atendency to pick up noises.

The microphone 2 should be shielded from casing vibrations by a cushionmounting 4 and the lead wire 3 should be electrically shielded frominterference, the latter shield constituting a ground lead from themicrophone and encasing the lead 3.

For the purpose of completely shielding the microphone 2 from casingvibration the microphone is suspended in mid-air inside the accordion byrubber bands 5 stretched between suitable posts 6 on a copper frame land choir cling the microphone in a circumferential groove 8 in thelatter.

The frame 1 may be rectangular with the posts 6 disposed at the oppositecorners, as shown. It is mounted on the piano side reed blocks 9 withthe microphone 2 preferably facing the bass side of the accordion, in aspace where it will not be touched or interfere with the operation ofthe accordion.

The mounting comprises a pair of wood screws [0 passing through thinsheet metal straps H which encircle the opposite sides of the frame, andinto the corresponding wood reed blocks. A rubber or felt washer I2 liesbeneath each strap ll and between it and the corresponding reed block,and a rubber tube l3 encircles each screw I0 and is confined between thescrew head and strap II.

The corners of frame 1 rest on felt pads 44 glued to the wood reedblocks 9.

The shielded lead wire 3 is secured to the back of microphone 2 andextends outwardly to a screw connector l5 clamped through the outercasing wall of-the accordion with suitable rubber Washers l6th-erebetween. The ground shield encasing wire 3 is secured to theconnector 55.

The connector I5 is adapted to receive a removable coupling connector Hand shielded cable leading to the amplifier set l8 and loud speaker IS.

The amplifier set l8 and speaker l9 should be set to favor bassamplification.

With the pickup constructed and mounted as described it has been foundthat the key and valve noises are not picked up. The floating microphonepicks up all musical tones directly from the reeds and withoutdistortion or echoes. All transmittal of tonal vibrations through thecasing of the microphone are avoided. The tonal quality of amplificationis far superior to any obtainable heretofore Where microphones Wereattached directly to the casing and the like.

The invention may have various modifications and embodiments Within thescope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. The combination With a musical instrument having reed blocks andpiano keys at one side thereof, of an amplifier pickup comprising alight Weight microphone and a floating mounting therefor, and fasteningmeans for securing the mounting to the piano side reed blocks in anotherwise unused space in the instrument.

In an accordion having reed blocks and up comprising a crystalmicrophone, a floating support for said microphone, and cushion meanspiano keys at one side thereof, an amplifier pick- 4 making amplifierpickup difiicult, an amplifier pickup comprising a microphone, afloating mounting therefor, and fastening means for securing themounting upon the reed blocks of the instrument.

*5. In an accordion having reed blocks and piano keys at one sidethereof, an amplifier pickup comprising a crystal microphone, a framesurrounding said microphone, rubber bands held by said frame andencircling said microphone to float the same in mid-air, means securingsaid frame to the piano side reed blocks of the accordion in the centralspace in the accordion with said microphone facing the bass side of theaccordion, and cushion means disposed between said frame and said reedblocks to prevent pick up of noises by the microphone.

WALTER J. BABICKY.

REFERENCES CITED The foiiowing references are of record int'he of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

